The rating sees Switzerland claiming 4 spots within the high 10.
Transferring to a brand new nation will be daunting, however Mercer’s annual High quality of Dwelling Report helps ease the decision-making course of.
These with itchy ft can uncover the highest cities that provide expats the very best way of life – and the best integration into the local people.
This 12 months’s report has seen a change within the high 10. Whereas Vienna topped the record in 2023, this 12 months’s profitable metropolis is Zurich, Switzerland.
What’s so nice about Zurich for expats?
Selecting Zurichfor the primary spot was ‘fueled by its excellent public providers, low crime charges, and a vigorous cultural scene, all backed by environment friendly infrastructure and a dedication to sustainability,’ the Mercer report mentioned.
It additionally added that the town has enhanced its airport connections with extra flights to and from different continents added in summer time 2024. Zurich now boasts routes to Seoul, Shanghai, Washington, and Toronto with SWISS and a restored connection to Tunis and Djerba with Tunisair, amongst others.
“In 2024, Zurich gained flights to Atlanta, Cluj-Napoca, Djerba, Košice, and Tunis, making it simpler than ever for expats to get dwelling and away.” Dr James Pearson, an airline routes analyst, instructed Euronews Journey.
Over 400,000 folks with a non-Swiss background stay in Zurich, making it the most important expat neighborhood in Switzerland. Nevertheless, it’s additionally an costly metropolis to stay in, notably for renters, based on Rigby AG, a staffing and venture providers firm based mostly in Zurich.
The price of residing in Zurich is 71.8 % increased than in Vienna, the second-place metropolis on the record, reveals the price of residing database Numbeo.
Lease costs are 127.6 per cent increased in Zurich than in Vienna, and groceries value round 65 per cent extra. Nonetheless, wages are increased too, so as soon as expats begin incomes, the life-style turns into extra comfy.
Zurich is commonly applauded for its high quality of life. The Institute for High quality of Life ranked it second in its 2024 record of the happiest cities on the planet, behind Aarhus, Denmark. Within the world IMD Sensible Metropolis Index, Zurich secured the highest spot in 2024 for the fifth 12 months in a row, whereas the European Fee ranked it the most livable metropolis in Europe.
Which different European cities are nice for expats?
Eight of the highest 10 cities in Mercer’s high quality of residing index are European, with solely Auckland and Vancouver sneaking into the record.
Different extremely ranked cities embody Vienna, down one place from the highest spot in 2023, and Geneva, additionally in Switzerland, which climbed two locations to take bronze place this 12 months.
Copenhagen retained its fourth place spot, whereas Amsterdam climbed a formidable eight locations to make it to fifth place. Rounding out the highest 10, Frankfurt dropped a spot to tie with Vancouver in seventh, whereas two different Swiss cities, Bern and Basel, took ninth and tenth place, respectively.
Different massive good points have been made by Stockholm in Sweden, which rose eight locations to 18th within the record, and Lisbon which jumped 12 positions to take twenty seventh.
The most important drop within the record was from Stuttgart, Germany, which fell 20 locations within the rating to forty sixth. Though Mercer didn’t specify why, the town has been battling a extremely controversial infrastructure venture – Stuttgart 21 – which has been inflicting disruption to day by day life for residents.
What are the worst locations on the planet for expats to stay?
241 cities from 5 continents have been included within the Mercer rating, so in fact, there are some losers in addition to winners. Many cities on the backside of the record are in Africa and the Center East, with Khartoum in Sudan taking the picket spoon for final place.
Additionally languishing within the decrease ranks are Baghdad in Iraq, Banhui within the Central African Republic, Sanaa in Yemen, and Port-Au-Prince in Haiti.
Curiously, some US cities have clawed their means up the ranks this 12 months, with Los Angeles in California making the most important good points by transferring up 26 locations to forty fourth. Different climbers included Atlanta, Dallas, and Boston.
Mercer evaluates high quality of life by means of ongoing analysis on the practicalities of day by day life for worldwide staff and their households, including, “Probably the most profitable locations immediately are those who mix versatile governance round cell expertise with a top quality of life and an inexpensive value of residing.”